Your Letters
15:26 UK time, Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Re: Why is service in the UK often so bad? It's down to our (public) expectations and the fact that we don't like to cause a fuss. Our expectations are changing and so is our mentality towards "creating a fuss". Thanks to this coalition government that will speed up the process.
Stuart Duffy
Service is at least in part because people in the UK regard service as something delivered by servants, and so to give service is demeaning, and resented. The proprietor of a very good restaurant once told me he would never employ a Brit as waiting staff for this very reason. He said that his waiting staff were the most important members of his team, because it was they who dealt with the paying customers.
Owen Roberts
In France, they make a fuss and the service is much, much worse.
Andy Hill
Sir, I was entertained by your references to tabloid "sub-ese". I always smile when I see a hairdresser referred to a "crimper" (or "top crimper" if they happen to be famous), a sportsperson as an "ace", a senior police officer as a "top cop" etc. It's funny how none of these phrases are used in everyday conversation despite such words being read by millions of people every day.
David F, Edinburgh, UK
"A TV trailer advertising the film Saw 3D has been banned after a 10-year-old complained that it was "distressing" and "inappropriately scheduled". Interestingly advanced language for a 10 year old. Methinks it was his parents that did the complaining. I'm also not convinced a 10 year old would know the appropriate channels through which to raise such a complaint.
Martin, Bristol, UK
The quiz "7 questions on UK-US TV exports" snidely notes that a US remake of Fawlty Towers managed "just eight" episodes. That's not that bad considering the original only had 12!
Peter Douglas, Brussels (formerly Edinburgh)
Absolutely agree with Sarfraz Manzoor about record shops, although I also think it's just a sign of the times. Purchasing music online is so easy these days and thankfully people are still doing it. It's changing all the time. Remember how worried we were for music when the LP gave way for the CD. That said, I have fond memories of the small record shop down our street when I was young. I used to go there every week to get the new chart and to buy the occasional single or LP. Sadly it doesn't exist anymore. I also vivdly remember my very first visit to the HMV store in Oxford Street in 1983, in what was then the biggest record store in the world. I spent hours there.
Johan van Slooten
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